Tool retention device

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a retention strap device which retains a tool or object in the vicinity of the user. The invention comprises an elastic cord formed into a loop, with both ends of the cord terminating in a terminal clip. Disposed along the cord, are first and second slide stops, which allow the user to place and cinch a loop around the tool for securely retaining the tool and to place and cinch a second loop around the wrist of the user or other attachment position on or near the user&#39;s person.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/582,417 filed Jun. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to the field of tools, and moreparticularly to an apparatus for securing tools or other hand heldobjects to an individual's person in a marine or waterborne environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Persons utilizing tools in the construction of physical objects or theirrepair often, and unintentionally, drop the tool to the ground. If theyare using the tool at ground level, simply reaching down and retrievingthe tool is of little significance. However, if they are working atelevated heights or in a marine environment, dropping a tool may requirethe expenditure of a large amount of effort and time to retrieve thetool so they may commence working with the tool again. Moreover, if thetool is dropped while a person is working on a water surface, the toolmay fall into the water and sink, never to be recovered.

Tools with Rotational attributes are known in the art, as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,407,213 (Evans) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,516 (Sowry etal.). However, tools which incorporate buoyant materials maybeunsuitable in size or configuration for accomplishing the purposecontemplated by the user. Likewise, buoyant tools must be speciallymanufactured and are not capable of being interchanged with othernon-buoyant tools which are previously owned by a user. On a largerscale, the problem of undesired release of hand tools has beenrecognized as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,156 (Braun) and U.S. Pat. No.774,143 (Adams). These devices require special clips for attachment ofthe tool or bands to attach the tool to the user's wrist. However, thesedevices do not embody the construction, adjustability or versatilitycontemplated by the invention disclosed herein. Thus, a need exists foran apparatus which retains a tool or object on or near the person of theuser which is simple to connect to a tool or an object of variousdimensions and is easily attached to the user or the user's person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a retention strap which retains a toolor object in the vicinity of the user. In one embodiment of thedisclosed invention, the invention comprises an elastic cord formed intoa loop, with both ends of the cord terminating in a terminal clip.Disposed along the cord, are first and second slide stops, which allowthe user to place and cinch a loop around the tool and to place andcinch a second loop around the wrist of the user or other attachmentposition on or near the user's person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the presentinvention may be had by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the retention strap inventiondisclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a close-up, perspective view of the first and second slidestops; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the retention strap invention shownattached to a hand tool and secured around the wrist of the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the retention strap device 10 and related componentsin perspective detail. The retention strap device 10 consists of cord12, first slide stop 14, second slide stop 16 and terminal clip 18. Cord12 consists of a length of flexible, shock resistant material that in apreferred embodiment consists of elastic, deformable material such asrubber cord contained within a nylon abrasion resistant sheathing. Suchcord material is known in the art and is commonly referred to as “bungeecord” or “shock cord” among other market names. In a preferredembodiment, the cord 12 is resistant to physical and mechanicalweathering forces and is resistant to abrasion and repeated ultravioletlight exposure, which is common when used in a marine environment.Different lengths of cord may be used for specific applications, but inthe preferred embodiment measures twelve to eighteen inches in totallength. Cord 12 is formed into a single loop and threaded through afirst slide stop 14 and second slide stop 16. The two free ends of cord12 are then knotted and fixed into terminal clip 18. Terminal clip 18provides sufficient clamping force so that cord 12 is constantly fixedin a loop. Terminal clip 18 may be fabricated from metal, plastic,ceramic, and wood or polymer materials. Terminal clip 18, and other cordfastening means, are well known in the art and may be selected andimplemented by the user depending on the environment or application inwhich the invention disclosed herein shall be utilized.

Turning to FIG. 2, a close-up of the first slide stop 14 and secondslide stop 16 are depicted in assembled position on cord 12. First slidestop 14 and second slide stop 16 are preformed, preferably from shockand weather resistant plastic, with a sufficient preformed passagewaytherein through which cord 12 may be threaded. First slide stop 14 maybe moved along cord 12 by depressing slide button 15. Similarly, secondslide stop 16 may be moved along cord 12 by depressing slide button 17.Once the slide stops are in the desired position, the user removespressure from slide buttons 15, 17 and the slide stops 14, 16 thensupply sufficient frictional force to keep the slide stops in a secure,fixed position. Slide stops 14 and 16 may be fabricated from metal,plastic, ceramic, wood or polymer materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, two “styles” of preformed slide stops are shown forillustrative purposes, as slide stops and other frictional stops arewell known in the art and maybe used interchangeably for the purposes ofthe invention disclosed herein. In the preferred embodiment, slide stop14 is shown with two preformed passageways formed therein of sufficientdiameter so as to allow for the passage of one free end of the cord 12there through. As a result, an adjustable loop is capable of beingformed whereby the user may expand or contract said loop for theretention of a tool or object of various dimensions. This specificdesign of slide stop 14 prevents the strands of cord from becomingtwisted about the tool or object being retained and, more importantly,prevents the slide stop 14 from sliding off the end of cord 12regardless of whether or not a tool or object is being secured. Slidestop 16 is shown with a single passageway wherein both strands of thecord may pass through the single passageway. With this embodiment, auser may twist the cord to shorten the length of loop which may becreated by moving the slide stop along the cord lengths.

FIG. 3 shows the retention strap invention 10 in use for retaining ahand tool in proximity to the user. The user adjusts the first slidestop 14 to form a loop of diameter sufficient to insert a hand tool 22,a wrench as shown for example, or any other object to be retained andthen readjusts the first slide stop to secure the tool 22. The user thenadjusts the second slide stop 16 to form a loop large enough for theuser's hand/wrist 20 to pass through and then readjusts the second slidestop 16 to comfortably secure the loop around the user's hand/wrist 20.Thereafter, once the user begins working with the wrench 22, if the useraccidentally or intentionally loses his or her grip on the wrench 22,wrench 22 is retained in close proximity to the user instead of fallinginto the water or to the ground, depending on the environment in whichthe user is working. Wrench 22 is used for illustrative purposes andother tools or objects may be secured using the invention disclosedherein as discussed in the foregoing description.

The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawing are offered by way of illustration only and not as limitations.Other applications and variations of the invention disclosed herein willbecome evident to those skilled in the art.

1. A tool retention strap, comprising: a cord of fixed length formedinto a loop; a first slide stop slidably connected on said loop; and, aterminal clip fixed to at least one free end of the cord.
 2. The strapof claim 1 wherein the cord is comprised of an elastic material.
 3. Thestrap of claim 1 wherein the cord is fabricated from at least one ofrubber, leather, nylon, polymer or woven materials.
 4. The strap ofclaim 1 further comprising a second slide stop slidably connected onsaid loop.
 5. The strap of claim 1 wherein the first slide stop is madeof at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic, wood or polymer materials.6. The strap of claim 1 wherein the second slide stop is made of atleast one of metal, plastic, ceramic, wood or polymer materials.
 7. Thestrap of claim 1 wherein the terminal clips is made of at least one ofmetal, plastic, ceramic, wood or polymer materials.
 8. The strap ofclaim 4 wherein the second slide stop is made of at least one of metal,plastic, ceramic, wood or polymer materials
 9. A tool retention strap,comprising: a cord of fixed length formed into at least one loop; afirst slide stop in contact with said cord wherein the slide stop isslidable on said cord and producing sufficient friction along the cordfor tightening or un-tightening the loop around a tool; a second slidestop in contact with said cord wherein the second slide stop is slidableon said cord and producing sufficient friction along the cord fortightening or un-tightening the loop around the user's wrist.
 10. Thetool retention strap of claim 9 wherein at least one free end of thecord is knotted and secured by a terminal clip.
 11. The tool retentionstrap of claim 9 wherein the cord is comprised of an elastic material.12. The tool retention strap of claim 9 wherein the cord is fabricatedfrom at least one of at least one of rubber, leather, nylon, polymer orwoven materials.
 13. The tool retention strap of claim 9 wherein thefirst slide stop is fabricated from at least one of metal, plastic,ceramic, wood or polymer materials rubber, plastic, polymer or metallicmaterial.
 14. The tool retention strap of claim 9 wherein the secondslide stop is fabricated from at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic,wood or polymer materials rubber, plastic, polymer or metallic material.15. The tool retention strap of claim 9 wherein the terminal clip isfabricated from at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic, wood or polymermaterials rubber, plastic, polymer or metallic material.